Ashes

by Aleatha Romig

  “Marion Elliott?” I asked.

  “Hillman would only confirm that he was a regular attendee.”

  My head shook. “He fucking didn’t buy just Madeline. She’s too old for him. That son of a bitch thought he’d get Ruby.”

  Reid peered my way. “Are you going to tell Madeline?”

  “Before or after I shove his cock down his throat?”

  Both men remained silent.

  “Madeline has to face him in that tournament tomorrow.” I ran my hand over my hair. “I will tell her but not until this tournament is over. We have enough happening with Ivanov and Bykov.”

  Mason and I had met with Bykov. Madeline had been right—he tried the Russian thing. His expression was priceless when Mason replied with perfect enunciation and diction. Bykov was interested in an alliance.

  “Madeline can distract Elliott.” I turned to Reid. “When is the final round of the tournament—the time?”

  He checked another screen. “Saturday evening at seven.”

  “Madeline mentioned the difference in the world since the death of Elliott’s family—one tweet. Can you schedule a news leak for say, Saturday at 8:00 p.m.?”

  “If Elliott qualifies he’ll be in the tournament. There’s no communication in the tournament hall.”

  “You’re right,” I said. “And when those doors open, he’ll be bombarded. That will give the newshounds some time to verify what you leak. He will be too concerned with damage control to worry about Madeline.”

  Reid grinned. “Yeah, I know the right reporters to get in on this. They’ll be thrilled with having the scoop.”

  “They can’t release it early,” I warned. “Timing is everything.”

  “Usually when I say this is from Sterling Sparrow, people comply.”

  “Smart people,” Mason said.

  As the three of us walked to the elevator, Reid was the one who commented. “If someone like Elliott can hide that information, just imagine what’s out there under the surface.”

  I let the scanner read my palm, calling for the elevator. “Do you ever get sick and tired of learning how depraved people can be?”

  “Every day,” Mason said as we stepped into the elevator.

  “I need to go out before dinner,” I said, hitting the G button.

  “Who’s going with you?” Reid asked.

  “No one. I won’t be gone long.”

  Reid and Mason looked from one to the other.

  “I’ll go,” Reid said. “I don’t get out much.”

  “I don’t need a babysitter. It’s a quick trip.”

  “To Downers Grove?” Reid asked.

  “No. I told you. I’m not touching Ms. Adkins. Her hell is living, not dying.”

  “We can all go,” Mason said. “I was just out meeting with a contact. My truck is ready.”

  I stepped back and looked at my friends.

  Reid was wearing jeans and a button-down shirt, his usual attire for working on 2. His sleeves were rolled up, showing his muscular dark forearms. Mason was also wearing blue jeans, his signature cowboy boots, and a gray thermal shirt. The sleeves were down, covering the colors on his arms, yet with the button near his neck undone, some colors were allowed to leak out. His hair was pulled back and cinched near his neck. Since coming from the nursing home, I was still wearing my normal gray suit, white shirt, and today’s blue tie. My suit coat was still in place, and black Italian loafers were on my feet.

  “We look like we might be robbing the place,” I said with a grin.

  “Now my interest is piqued,” Reid said. “Where are we robbing?”

  “Fine, come with me. You can give me your opinion.”

  Madeline

  “I wish I was going with you tomorrow,” Ruby said as I wished her good night.

  “We need to trust Patrick,” I replied as I reached for my daughter’s hands. “Once things settle down, we will go away on a trip.”

  “Patrick told me he doesn’t have a place on the beach.”

  I shrugged. “Ruby, there’s a big world out there. It’s time we stop thinking in terms of Andros’s part of it. I don’t know, but I bet if we want sun and a beach, Patrick can find one.”

  She let out a sigh. “It’s been almost two weeks. I’m about to scream.”

  “Please don’t do anything to endanger yourself or the Sparrows.” My eyes narrowed. “I don’t know if you know this, but in those two weeks, everyone here has come to love you. If anything happened, not one person here would put themselves over you.”

  “Mom, what am I going to do? Only two buttons work on the elevator for me. I can’t exactly run away if I can’t get out. There’s a door up at Aunt Araneae’s penthouse that goes to an outside elevator. Lorna said that doesn’t work for anyone. We all have to use the back elevator. It’s cool and creepy.”

  A smile came to my lips. “It is. They’ve thought of everything here.”

  “Come back,” Ruby said. “I’m nervous that Andros will be there.”

  I shook my head. “Nothing will happen to me as long as Patrick, Sterling, Mason, and their men are around.”

  “I like it here, but I don’t want to be here without you.”

  Letting go of her hand, I wrapped my arms around my daughter’s shoulders. “I love you, Ruby. I’ll be back and so will Pat—your father,” I corrected. “We’ll be back and we can concentrate on the future.”

  “But Andros will be there?”

  “Patrick thinks he will. There’s some business—not involving us—that Andros and Sterling are negotiating.”

  Her head moved from side to side, her long dark hair following suit upon her shoulders and down her back. “I don’t like that.”

  “It’s not our worry.”

  Ruby forced a grin. “Mom, win.”

  “I plan on it.”

  A few minutes later while in the bathroom with the tub water running, I stripped from the clothes I’d worn upstairs for dinner. With a towel wrapped around me, I added lavender bath salts to the water as the sweet aroma filled the bathroom. Piling my hair in a messy bun, I readied myself for a quick, warm bath. After testing the water, I dropped the soft towel near the tub and stepped in. As I settled, the water rose to my chest, covering my skin in the silky lavender-scented liquid.

  Just as I was about to close my eyes, the door to the bathroom opened and a smile came to my lips. “I thought you would be on 2 longer.”

  “I told the others to get over it. I was spending the evening with my wife.”

  My gaze narrowed. “You did not.”

  “Not in so many words.”

  Patrick’s suit coat from earlier was gone as were his cuff links. His shirt sleeves were rolled to his elbows and his pants, belt, and shoes were in place.

  He had my attention as he unbuttoned the shirt, button by button, exposing his toned wide chest. Peeling it from his arms and dropping it to the floor, he came closer.

  Looking at his slacks, I grinned. “You’re overdressed if you’re joining me.”

  Testing the water with the tips of his fingers, he knelt on the towel I’d dropped.

  The aroma of his cologne mingled with the lavender as he leaned over the tub and our lips met. The heat intensified, not from the water but from this man’s actions. As his mouth unapologetically claimed mine and our tongues danced, one of his hands steadied my neck as his other large hand roamed.

  Under the water, his touch moved, caressing my breasts until my nipples hardened. Lower he roved, as his fingers moved over my skin until they found my core.

  Without words, I moved my legs, granting him access as his lips and tongue continued their claim. I gasped for breath as one finger and then two filled me. In and out he worked me, taking painstaking time and pleasure as his thumb also found my clit.

  I was lost to his touch as the bathroom filled with my moans and whimpers.

  For only a moment, I considered protesting, to say I wanted to pleasure him as well, but words were lost as he broug
ht me to climax. My muscles tightened as my fingers grasped the tub’s edge, and I stretched my legs as my inner walls contracted.

  “That’s it, Maddie. Let go.”

  It was what I was doing, what I could do with Patrick.

  I could let go, let the worries and concerns float away like the lavender scent from the bath. Wave after wave fluttered through me until as limp as the washcloth, I managed to smile and reach for his hand.

  “You should take off the rest of those clothes,” I said, eyeing his defined muscles. “And join me.”

  “I would.” His smile grew and blue eyes shone. “Except there’s something in my pocket I want to be sure not to lose.”

  Still kneeling beside the tub, Patrick pulled a velvet box from his pocket.

  My eyes grew wide. “What did you do?”

  “I hope you like it.”

  The water sloshed as I sat forward and tears came to my eyes. “Is it…?”

  “Seventeen years overdue?” he said, finishing my sentence. “Yes, Maddie girl, it is, and if you’ll forgive me for the delay...” He reached for my cheeks and wiped away a tear. “I would be honored to have you wear my ring.”

  He opened the top, pulling it back to reveal a stunning ring wedged inside between the folds of soft satin.

  I stared at the most beautiful wedding set I’d ever seen, one with a large round center diamond. The wedding band wrapped around with alternating diamonds and rubies.

  Words were lost as I stared, unable to move.

  Patrick lifted both rings from the box, holding them between his thumb and first finger. The two rings stayed intertwined. “I had them soldered. They can’t come apart. Just like us. Never again.”

  “Oh, Patrick, they’re beautiful.”

  His blue gaze met mine. “And you’ll wear them?”

  “Every day for the rest of my life.”

  He slid the rings over my fourth finger of my left hand. Unlike the ring from Marion, this one fit perfectly. He again reached into the pocket of his trousers. This time, there was no box, only a large titanium circle.

  My heart raced within my chest. “You’ll wear a ring too?”

  “Of course. I said I would. I want the world to know that my heart is taken.” Instead of putting it on, Patrick handed the large ring my direction.

  As he’d done for me, I placed it on his fourth finger on his left hand. For a moment, I stared at both of our hands. Such as a picture from a wedding album, the rings shone. I looked back up at my husband, at his handsome face. Yes, we’d both aged, but as much as we’d changed, he made me feel the emotions of new and wondrous love, the rapid heart rate, clammy palms, and overwhelming wonder.

  My lips pushed my cheeks higher as my smile consumed my face. “It seems too good to be true.” I looked again at the ring upon my finger and back to his blue orbs. “I can’t believe you bought these.”

  “It’s just one thing on my list of things you deserve, things we missed, and things we’ll make right.” Standing, Patrick reached for his belt. “If that invitation still stands, my pockets are empty,” he said with a grin.

  Shaking my head, I lifted my hand to him. “I’ve had enough of the bath.” He took my hand as I stood within the large tub. “Take me to bed, Mr. Kelly.”

  “I hope you’re not tired.”

  “Sleeping wasn’t my intention.” With my hand in his, I stepped from the tub. The silky water slid over my skin to the towel below. My gaze went to my left hand. “I’m speechless.”

  He reached for another towel and wrapped it around me. “That’s all right. I wasn’t planning on talking.” In one swoop, Patrick had me in his strong arms and cradled against his bare chest.

  After laying me upon the bed, Patrick kicked off his shoes and loosened his belt. Soon he was dressed the same as I—undressed. He began to climb into the bed when I stopped him.

  “Patrick, will you do one thing first?”

  He stopped. “Anything.”

  “Turn off the lights.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I looked from the ring to his blue gaze, taking in his handsome fit physique and nodded. “I’m sure.”

  Patrick

  Over the last few days, as he said he would, Sparrow reached out to the leader of the New Orleans underworld, kingpin to kingpin. It wasn’t like the other man’s name was listed on Whitepages dot com, but when someone with Sparrow’s clout wants to talk, most people cooperate. Thankfully, he had. After some negotiations, we had not only his permission for our meeting with Ivanov but the support of his men if needed.

  Ivanov already had a strike against him for not reaching out.

  The world where we lived and worked was a world of crime, but it wasn’t a world without customs and rules. Those who were truly in charge, like us, lived in a gentlemen’s world. We made deals, shook hands, and our word was true. Yes, we could also kill or plunder—no longer like the pirates of old. An entire portfolio could be lost with the right clicks of a computer keyboard.

  The four of us were not only ready for what lay ahead, we also looked the part. Sparrow, Mason, and I were wearing suits while my wife wore a lovely white dress. It was one she chose after careful deliberation. Personally, I believed she was stunning in any color or no clothes at all.

  Before our departure, after Madeline was dressed, she turned my way.

  “What do you think?”

  My hands went to her waist. “That you’re absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, and I’m glad you are wearing my ring to tell every other man that you’re mine.”

  Her cheeks filled with pink. “I haven’t worn white…” Her smile dimmed. “…since the dress Kristine bought. I wore that one for four months.”

  My brow furrowed with concern. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know when we ordered your clothes.” I stepped back and took her in, down to the light beige heels upon her feet. “Maddie girl, you don’t need to wear it.”

  Her neck straightened as she inhaled. “I want to. It’s a step, and overcoming something even as minimal as the color white is empowering.”

  “Are you sure?” I didn’t know how this worked, but I wasn’t sure if now was the time, moments before boarding a plane to a tournament where she’d be faced with both Elliott and Ivanov.

  Madeline nodded. “No one else knows, no one.” She reached up, circling my neck with her arms and locking her fingers as our hips came together. “I wanted you to know. I want you to see me and know that I’m stronger than I was a day ago, a week ago, and a minute ago because with you I can be.” Moving to her tiptoes, her lips came to mine.

  And now, stepping from the plane, the warm sea air blew Madeline’s hair and fluttered the skirt of her dress as she lifted her face to the sun. Seeing her in the sunshine, I reminded myself that she was the fucking strongest woman I’d ever met. Beautiful, sexy, intelligent, and mine. I placed my hand in the small of her back. “You’re beautiful.”

  Her bright smile and gorgeous green eyes came my way. “I don’t know what you have planned for Andros, but right now, my beef is with Marion.” Her head shook. “I don’t want to see him, but I want to beat him. After this weekend, I never want to lay eyes on that man again.”

  “That’s my plan,” I said, knowing that Madeline was still uninformed when it came to the restraining order Elliott’s wife had filed prior to her death or the knowledge that he’d attended more auctions than hers at the McFadden mansion. The fact that Elliott was most likely more interested in my sixteen-year-old daughter, who was safely hidden in Chicago, made allowing this amazing woman at my side to carry out her personal plan for restitution all that easier.

  I led Madeline to our waiting car.

  With the New Orleans outfit’s blessing, we’d sent a flock of Sparrows down to their city yesterday. It was our men’s job to canvass the city and ensure the safety of not only our accommodations but also our transportation. With the knowledge that my wife would be at my side, I personally made sure every t was crossed and i was dot
ted. I wasn’t taking any unnecessary chances.

  Per usual, Reid was our man back at the command center. He was our go-to for information. Yes, we would have a computer setup in our hotel suite, but nothing compared to the technical capability back in Chicago on 2.

  Besides, there was comfort in knowing that Reid was no more than a floor away from the rest of the women. The lockdown status had been going on since Ivanov’s first declaration. Even to the women with lockdown experience, it was getting old. There were more than a few murmurs of discontent. That said, minus Ruby, the other women understood the status wouldn’t be in effect if it wasn’t necessary.

  Arriving yesterday, Garrett had taken charge of the preliminary setup of all things Sparrow in New Orleans. Currently, he was driving Sparrow and Mason. Christian was driving me and Madeline. These men had proven their loyalty and devotion, steadily moving up our ranks.

  While there were actual casinos in New Orleans, this poker tournament was elite, taking place in a private club located within the French Quarter. With the tournament not set to begin for another three hours, we were on our way to our hotel.

  With a million-dollar buy-in, only fifteen players would begin play. On Thursday night that number would be reduced to ten. After Friday, five players would remain for the final round on Saturday night. The rules were similar to the ones we’d followed at Club Regal with one exception: in this tournament everyone began on equal footing. No one started with more or less money than any other player.

  One million.

  The top ten money accumulators would proceed to the next round. Eliminated players would leave with their earnings unless they’d lost by going all in.

  Our hotel suite had already been reserved and claimed. The rooms were swept for any kind of electronics, including surveillance. Next, our own electronics were installed, our virtual connection to Reid. As we entered the two-story lobby with glistening chandeliers, colorful mosaic ceilings, and shiny tile floors, New Orleans was in the air.